The Ruling “Classlessness”: SLC

Crews clean up the Energy Solutions Arena floor after Sunday night’s game

There’s serious, and then there’s serious.

“Serious” describes a person’s tone when delivering a message or reacting to one, or even their actions. If you’re serious about basketball, you might pay for courtside seats, or watch the satellite NBA package, or subscribe to a premium, insider’s info, newsletter. You want your team to win, then you’re bummed when they lose.

Serious describes people who are wound up a little bit too tightly. To them, mundane things tend to evolve into life or death issues.

Yes, the Utah Jazz fans are serious, but they’re seriously wound up, too. From the debris hitting the Spurs, to the cheers as the Spurs hit the floor, the Jazznecks are an angry bunch. And they’re not “Clint Eastwood”-angry, but rather “Eddie Chiles”-angry.

E-mails from the jagged edge

SUBJ: None

It was a few fans don’t judge everyone in slc like that. And your team wasn’t fouling…give me a break…

Dustin

The Anchor Desk responds: According to the official box score of the game, the Spurs shot 23 free throws in the last period; the Jazz shot 2. In that same period, the Spurs scored 22 points from the foul line and only 9 from the field. ‘Nuff said.

SUBJ: You Might be the Worst Columnist that I have ever read

Buddy you are a joke, and your supposed “journalism” is highly offensive. Clearly you know little to nothing about basketball. Remind me which Spurs “meal ticket” was being undercut and hammered. Umm, yeah, you can’t because that never happened. Fiction, doesn’t pass as journalism. By the way mullets went out of style years ago, and you are the one commenting on bad hairdos. Nice.

Peter

The Anchor Desk responds: Hey! He wrote that I “may” be the worst columnist he’s ever read. Does that mean I can actually get worse? Holy crap. That’s difficult to fathom, but I’m willing to give it a try.

I’m so frustrated at the moment that I’m not sure I can give a decent analysis of this game. I’m frustrated at a lot of things — the refs, Manu Ginobili, the refs, Tony Parker, every Jazz player not named Deron Williams, the refs, our fans for losing their cool and throwing things, the refs…

When it all came slowly crashing down for the Jazz in the fourth quarter Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena, the whole scene became ugly and embarrassing — on the court, in the seats, on the sideline.

Utah Jazz fans didn’t exactly handle themselves with the highest of class as the minutes ticked away in Game 4 at the EnergySolutions Arena Monday. It all started with about four minutes remaining in the game following a time-out, when a coin and a soft mini basketball were hurled down on the floor in the direction of Spurs guard Bruce Bowen.

In all, after several eyewitness accounts from media members, EnergySolutions Arena security guards and ushers, here’s a list of some of the items that were tossed: empty water bottles, coins, wrappers, Carmex, towels and soft mini basketballs.

Two fans were taken away in handcuffs after an incident near the portal where the refs left the arena. One of those men was eventually cited for throwing a water bottle, according Salt Lake City lieutenant Steve Cheever, who added it’s not that uncommon for that to happen.

I actually felt embarrassed for the good Jazz fans, but it’s okay. We’re not complaining. We won. But it’s still funny …